2020 Maryland Bills
2020 Maryland Bills
The Lyme Disease Education & Support Groups of Maryland
Are not involved with any bills listed below.
Lucy Barnes
January 15, 2020
This doctor protection bill (5th attempt) was pre-filed last October (2019) and has already been introduced (January 8, 2020).
I was just told there will be a hearing in the Senate Education, Health & Environmental Affairs Committee that has been set for January 21, 2020 at 1:30 PM. (Not listed on the legislative calendar yet.)
SB 103 is sponsored by Senator Eckardt (eastern shore) and Senator Klausmeier (Baltimore). It is being promoted by a newly formed group- the Maryland Society of Integrative Medicine ( https://msim-info.org ).
The bill's goal is to allow "out of the box" treatments and then protect doctors who treat their patients using what they refer to as " integrative, complimentary, alternative or non-conventional" methods.
The word "Lyme" has been removed from the current bill; however I was told Lyme would be "one of the major areas that would be covered". EDIT- There were a number of changes to the bill and "Lyme and tick borne diseases" was mentioned in the final bill before it passed.
SB 103- Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment of Patients- Disciplinary Actions
(The Patient' Access To Integrative Healthcare Act of 2020)
Between January 2020 and August of 2020 I heard nothing from the people who were trying to get a bill passed to protect alternative treating doctors in Maryland. We had been in regular contact for three years prior to this bill.
On Sunday, August 9th, 2020, I got an email asking for money for Delegate Steve Johnson's re-election campaign. It stated he was one of the sponsors/cosponsors of a bill that was passed. Bill? Passed? It would have been nice to have some information or progress reports on what someone was doing supposedly to "help" us. That didn't happen.
What's left of the bill that eventually passed is linked below. The bill has been gutted and changed to a point of nothingness. I don't see any benefits for Lyme patients or Lyme treating doctors, yet Lyme and tick borne illnesses was used as bait to try to get the bill passed. Where was the transparancy?
Link To Bill- Diagnostic Evaluation and Treatment of Patients- Disciplinary Actions- (The Patient's Access To Integrative Healthcare Act 2020)
http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/2020RS/chapters_noln/Ch_140_sb0103E.pdf
EMAIL- From Maryland Society of Integrative Medicine (August 9, 2020)
Dear Friends,
We are very fortunate to have had four wonderful primary sponsors for our integrative medicine legislation. Due to their efforts, our bill has now become law in Maryland. These sponsors worked very hard to get our legislation passed and it is important to have such supportive legislators continue in office. We won a big victory, but there is much yet to do!
I recently received a request from the Friends of Delegate Steve Johnson, one of the important primary sponsors for our recently passed legislation, regarding contributions to his re-election campaign. He did a wonderful job! If you can help, please send his re-election organization a donation. Even as little as $25, $50 or $100 can make a difference.
Here is an excerpt from his email:
"As a member of the Health and Government Operations Committee, I am an advocate for the health and well being of not only my constituents but for all Marylanders...The coronavirus has had a significant impact on us all even the fundraising efforts of my campaign. Like so many other events, the fundraiser planned for August has been canceled. So in order to continue to serve Maryland residents, I need your help. Please consider making a donation. Your gift in any amount would help tremendously".
Please mail your contributions to:
Friends of Steve Johnson
8 N. Parke St.
Aberdeen, MD 21001
OR
they can be made online at www.friendsofstevejohnson.com
Thank you kindly!
Sincerely,
David London
Maryland Society of Integrative Medicine
Med-Chi Letter- to Maryland Legislators, Opposing the Bill (February 4, 2020)
https://www.medchi.org/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=0hijcnZUJi8%3D&portalid=18
Maryland Board of Physicians- 2020 Legislative Summary- See the last page, under Practitioners Matters- HB 259 & SB 103
https://www.mbp.state.md.us/forms/2020_legislative_summary.pdf
Last Updated- January 2020
Lucy Barnes
scc